Flange



p 1966 P. v. GREGG 3,275,345

FLANGE Filed June 8, 1964 INVENTOR. 7 14 7746722 'rc;;

BY W, vgm,

United States Patent 3,275,346 FLANGE Paul V. Gregg, Racine, Wis.,assignor to Walker Manufacturing Company, Racine, Wis., a corporation ofDelaware Filed June 8, 1964, Ser. No. 373,448 1 Claim. (Cl. 28549.)

This invention relates generally to internal combustion engines, andmore particularly, to an improved pipe flange for connecting the exhaustpipe to the exhaust manifold of an automotive engine.

It is a primary object of the present invention to provide a flange forinter-connecting the exhaust pipe and exhaust manifold of an automotiveengine, which flange is characterized by the same structural rigidity asheretofore known and used flange devices, but wherein considerably lessmaterial is used than in such known and used flanges.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a flange of theabove character which, by virtue of the fact that it consists of lessmaterial than heretofore known flange devices, may be manufactured orproduced at a considerably faster rate than such known flange devicesand is therefore considerably less expensive to commercial- 1y produce.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunctionwith the accompanying drawing, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of the flange of the presentinvention, as seen in operative association with a conventionalautomotive exhaust pipe and exhaust manifold;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along the line 22 ofFIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged transverse cross-sectional view taken along theline 3-3 of FIGURE 2; and

FIGURE 4 is an elevated perspective view, partially broken away, of theflange of the present invention.

Referring now to FIGURE 1 of the drawing, a pipe flange 10, inaccordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, isshown in operative association with a conventional automotive engine 12comprising an engine block 14, an air-fuel intake system 16, and anexhaust system consisting of an exhaust manifold 18 and an exhaust pipeor conduit 20. The flange is adapted to rigidly connect the manifold 18with the conduit 20, in a manner hereinafter to be described.

As seen in FIGURES 2 and 3, the flange 10 is generally oval in shape andcomprises a flat or planar base section 22 which defines a centralannular opening 24. An outer peripheral section or skirt 26 projectsperpendicularly upward from and extends around the outer periphery ofthe flanges base section 22. In a similar manner, an annular shoulder orextrusion 28 projects perpendicularly upward from the flanges basesection 22 around the periphery of the opening 24. As seen in FIGURE 3,the upper edges of the skirt 26 and extrusion 28 are coplanar and definea gasket seating surface 30.

The size of the opening 24 is preferably equal to the inside diameter ofthe exhaust pipe 20, and the side of the flanges base section 22opposite the skirt 26 and extrusion 28 is adapted to be secured as bywelding to the upper end of the pipe in a manner such that the opening24 is coaxially aligned with the inside diameter of the pipe 20, as seenin FIGURE 3. A pair of manifold stud receiving apertures 32 and 34 areformed in the base section 22 of the flange 10 on the opposite sides ofthe central opening 24 and interjacent the peripheral skirt 26 andextrusion 28.

As seen in FIGURES 2 and 3, the flange 10 is secured to the exhaustmanifold 18 by a pair of manifold studs 36 3,275,346 Patented Sept. 27,1966 and 38 that are fixedly-secured at their upper ends to aflat-exhaust pipe mounting surface 40 formed on the lower side of themanifold 18. The lower ends of the studs 36 and 38 are externallythreaded and extend downward from the mounting surface 40 through theapertures 32 and 34 formed in the flange 10, whereby suitable washers42, 44 and nuts 46, 48, are used in conjunction with the studs 36 and'38 to rigidly secure the flange 10 to the manifold '18. A gasket, which'is hereindesignated by the numeral 50 and is formed with suitableopenings corresponding .to the opening 24 and the apertures 32 and 34 ofthe flange 10, is compressed between the mounting surface 40 of themanifold 18 and the gasket seating surface 30 formed by the upper edgesof the flanges skirt 26 and extrusion 28, thereby providing a gas-tightseal between the manifold 18-and the flange 10 upon assembly thereof.

In a preferred construction of the present invention, the flange 10 isfabricated of .090 inch to .125 inch coil stock and is formed into theabove described configuration by means of conventional stampingtechniques. Preferably, the thickness or height of the flange 10 in theaxial direction is about of an inch, and the upper edges of the skirt 26and extrusion 28 are machined on a conventional belt grinder or the likeso as to be coplanar and thereby define the flat gasket seating surface30. With the above construction, it has been found that normaltightening of the nuts 46 and 48 on the manifold studs 36 and 38 tosecure the flange 10 to the manifold 18, does not cause the upper edgesof the skirt 26 or extrusion 28 to cut or similarly damage the gasket50. Furthermore, it has been found that the base section 22 of theflange 10 does not tend to diaphragm or deform upon normal tightening ofthe nuts 46 and 48 on the studs 36 and 38.

As seen in FIGURES 3 and 4, the flanges base section '22, skirt 26 andextrusion 28 form an annular channel, herein designated 52, that extendsbetween the inner periphery of the skirt 26 and the outer periphery ofthe ext-rusion 28. The channel 52 may be filled with a suitableheat-resistant, sound-deadening material 54 to reduce the high frequencypipe ring produced as exhaust gases are transmitted through the exhaustpipe 20. One suitable sound-deadening material consists of a plasticresin such as polybutene, poly-isobutene or butyl rubber. This materialmay be molded directly with the channel 52 or alternatively, may bemolded and cut to the size of the channel 52 and be inserted therewithinupon assembly of the flange 10.

It will be apparent from the aforegoing description of the presentinvention that a particular feature of the flange 10 resides in the factthat a strong durable construction is provided that requires a minimumamount of material and a minimum number of manufacturing operations forthe fabrication thereof. Accordingly, it will be evident that the flange10 is considerably more economical to commercially produce than similartype flange structures heretofore known and used; i.e., flanges that areconstructed of relatively heavy gauge strip stock material.

While it will 'be apparent that the preferred embodiment hereinillustrated is well calculated to fulfill the objects above stated, itwill be appreciated that the flange 10 of the present invention issusceptible to modification, variation and change without departing fromthe proper scope or fair meaning of the subjoined claim.

What is claimed is:

A pipe flange for connecting the exhaust pipe to the exhaust manifold ofan automotive engine,

sai-d flange comprising a flat oval-shaped base section which defines acentral exhaust gas opening and a pair of manifold stud-receivingapertures on the opposite sides of said opening,

said flange being formed with skirt section projecting perpendicularlyaway from said base section and extending around the outer periphery ofsaid base section,

said flange being further formed with an extrusion sec tion projectingperpendicularly away from said base section in the same direction assaid skirt section and disposed around the periphery of the said centralopening,

the outer ends of said skirt section and said extrusion section defininga gasket seating surface,

the cavity defined by said base section, extrusion section and saidskirt section being at least partially filled With the plastic resinsound-deadening material,

said flange being Welded to the exhaust pipe around the periphery ofsaid central opening and on the opposite side of said base section fromsaid skirt section and said extrusion section,

means including bolt means extending through said apertures forconnecting said flange to said manifold, and

gasket means interposed between said seating surface and said manifold.

, References Cited by the Examiner CARL W. TOMLIN, Primary Examiner.

T. A. LISLE, Assistant Examiner.

